Yesterday I went holiday shopping with my friend Brett and I think we may have single-handedly saved the economy.

OK, not really, but jeez the holidays are damn expensive. But you are a BrokeAss, so you know that there is more to the holiday season than consumerism. You know that cooking a beautiful meal doesn’t need to be costly and that it is a wonderful way to show the people in your life that you love them.

So here are some menus for any upcoming holiday cooking you might be planning (I made knishes for Chanukah —now I’m planning what my family calls “Chrismukkah”).

Note: sometimes, when I’m feeling extra BrokeAss, I assign recipes to friends and make the party a potluck, leaving me free to sip wine and boss everyone around instead of rushing to finish everything at the last minute. Just sayin’.

And speaking of wine, I frequently consult Adam’s TJ’s Wine Blitz for great wine that won’t cost me more than $10—an excellent tool.

Quasi-Traditional Holiday Dinner
Feta Walnut Spread with sliced baguette and vegetables
Roast Chicken with Rosemary-Walnut Pesto
Caesar Salad
Sweet Potato Gratin
Pear Spice Cake with Molasses-Cream Cheese Icing

Dim Sum Christmas
Scallion Pancakes
Mango-Salmon Summer Rolls
Pork-Kale Gyoza
Ginger-Shrimp Potstickers
Brown Sugar-Banana Spring Rolls

X-Mas Picnic Lunch
Ultimate Thanksgiving Leftovers Sandwich
Roasted Rapini-Carrot Salad
Hearty Quinoa Salad
Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Sriracha Aioli
Dulce de Leche Brownies

Vegan Solstice Extravaganza
Chili-Gilded Tempeh Satay
Eggplant-Chickpea Fritters over Zhug
Rice Cakes Over Black Bean Puree With Mango-Avocado Relish and Fried Plantains
Quinoa Tabbouleh
Pistachio-Rosewater Cupcakes with Fluffy Vegan Buttercream Frosting

Christmas Morning Brunch
Rosemary-Bacon Scramble
Sweet Potato-Ricotta Cinnamon Rolls
Ricotta Pancakes with Cranberries and Pine Nuts
Fresh Fruit

I have a lot of cooking and present-wrapping ahead of me in the next couple of days, so I’m not sure if I’ll be posting much this week, but I want to take this opportunity to wish you, from the bottom of my heart, the happiest of happy holidays and a peaceful new year.

Love,
Gabi